By Keith Brake
Montezuma Magazine Editor
I told you not to read way too much into that 37-22 jamboree score earlier in the week, didn’t I?
Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont, with four returning starters from a 24-1 team, should be just pretty darn good in Class 2A this year.
Vinton-Shellsburg, Friday night’s opponent in the regular season opener, more likely approximates Montezuma’s peer group in the Class 1A South Iowa Cedar League. The Vikettes didn’t return a starter, and had just one girl who was a regular in all their games.
The Bravettes beat the Vikettes, 59-51, using a 37-24 second half, which included a 25-15 fourth quarter, to get the job done.
Ellen Cook and Shiressa Wetering each scored 18 points in the win, and two other girls, Claire Erselius and Jadyn Sharer, each had eight points. Vivian Cook chipped in with six.
“We had a tremendous 4th quarter where our kids truly grew and FOUGHT,” Coach Janel Burgess said. “The amount of grit and pride the entire team played with was truly special.”
The Bravettes got themselves to the free throw line for 19 tosses. Although they made just 10, they outscored Vinton-Shellsburg by six from this vital area.
Each team made nine three-pointers. Ellen Cook led the Bravettes with four-of-nine from behind the arc.
The Bravettes did a good job of playing defense without fouling. Montezuma was whistled for 10 personsl, to 18 by Vinton-Shellsburg.
Rebounding was by committee for the Bravettes. Izzy Roorda and Ellen Cook each had six, Sydnee Burgess had four, and Jadyn Sharer and Vivian Cook each had three.
Ellen Cook added five steals and a blocked shot to an excellent night’s work in the season opener.
Wetering’s 18 points came on seven-for-11 shooting from the field, and four-for-eight from the line.
Montezuma’s play was steady. The game was tied at 11 after one quarter and Vinton-Shellsburg led 27-23 at halftime and 36-35 after three quarters.
Then the Bravettes took their play up a notch in the fourth to get control late.
The Bravettes have another larger school toughie this coming week – Pella Christian, at their place, on Tuesday, Nov. 21.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Vinton-Shellsburg 11 16 9 15 – 51
Montezuma 11 12 12 25 – 59
MONTEZUMA 59) – Ellen Cook 6-14, 2-5, 2, 18. Vivian Cook 2-6, 0-0, 1, 6. Sydnee Burgess 0-2, 0-0, 0, 0. Claire Erselius 3-8, 0-0, 1, 8. Izzy Roorda 0-1, 0-0, 0, 0. Jadyn Sharer 2-6, 3-4, 1, 8. Laila Kercheval 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Jordan Ranfeld 0-0, 1-2, 3, 1. Shiressa Wetering 7-11, 4-8, 1, 18. TOTALS – 20-48, 10-19, 10, 59.
VINTON-SHELLSBURG (51).
totals – 22-46, 4-8, 18, 51.
Line score legend: field goals made/attempted; free throws made/attempted, personal fouls, total points.
Three-pointers – E. Cook 4-9, V. Cook 2-5, Erselius 2-5, Burgess 0-1, Roorda 0-1, Sharer 1-4. Totals – 9-25; V-S 9-20.
Rebounds (26) – Roorda 6, E. Cook 6, Burgess 4, Sharer 3, V. Cook 3, Erselius 2, Ranfeld 1, Wetering 1.
Assists (4) – Burgess 1, Erselius 1, Roorda 1, Wetering 1.
Steals – (9) – E. Cook 5, Roorda 2, Sharer 2.
Blocks (3) – E. Cook 1, Burgess 1, Roorda 1.